Step to Success

1. Steps to Success…
Volume 5, Issue 5 SEPT-OCT 2008
Fifth Annual Drive Fore Autism Update on the 2008 National Speaker
Golf Outing Conference
S ign up your foursome while there are still open-
ings! The Golf Club at Portsmouth Abbey has
graciously allowed us to sponsor an open golf day
I n our May-June 2008 issue of Steps to Success, we
ran a story about the upcoming National Speaker
Conference which is going to be held on Friday, Octo-
with proceeds to go to The Autism Project of RI for ber 24, 2008. Please note that the location has been
the benefit of our kids. The date is set for October changed from Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick to
24th and includes the following: Rhodes on the Pawtuxet in Cranston.
For more information and the ability to register online,
Breakfast, lunch and dinner, greens fees and cart.
Registration begins at 9:00AM with a shotgun start please visit our website at www.theautismproject.org.
at 10:30AM. Foursomes are limited and will be sold
Dr. Mesibov will begin the day by defining the impor-
on a first come first serve basis. Please contact
julie@theautismproject.org to register. tance of successful inclu-
sion for children with au-
tism based on the
TEACCH philosophy.
What is a Free and Appro-
priate Education? What
constitutes a Least Restric-
tive Environment? How do
we determine the student’s
placement? The remaining
breakouts will offer sup-
ports and interventions for Dr. Gary Mesibov
school personnel to imple-
ment the successful inclusion within their classroom
and community settings.
It’s not every day that a golfer has the opportunity
of playing such an exclusive private course. Take
advantage of this now while you have the chance
Please note that the location has
and you’ll be helping out our kids with Autism at been changed from Crowne Plaza
the same time. Remember, you don’t have to have
a foursome to play. You can sign up as an individ- Hotel in Warwick to Rhodes on
ual, or with two or three and we’ll set up the four- the Pawtuxet in Cranston.
somes. They say that charity begins at home, but,
you know, sometimes it can begin on the first tee!

2. PAGE 2 STEPS TO SUCCESS…
Executive Director
Ms. Joanne Quinn
Dear Friends and Colleagues: Executive Board:
Mr. Chris Perrotti, Chairman
W e made it! The Autism Project of RI success-
fully moved to our new location and we are set-
tling in and preparing for an exciting fall of program-
Ms. Nancy Merrill, Acting
Secretary
ming for people with ASD, educators and the many, many people who work Ms. Jean-Marie Coletta,
tirelessly to support them. Treasurer
Mr. Michael Andoscia
Before we look to the future, I need to thank Connie Rinehart, camp director Mr. Cary Coen
and her terrific staff and volunteers at Camp. Campers experienced a fun
Ms. Joan Colwell
filled week of activities because of their dedication and commitment to the
children. This was the first year with extended liquid sunshine, but the staff Mr. Dave Dittman
worked through it and campers persevered. Ms. Pam McLaughlin
Dr. Meg Murray
I need to also thank Deana Dufficy, assistant camp director, for six years of
commitment to this program. Her sense of Dr. Anthony Regine
humor, organization skills and professional- Mr. David Tassoni
ism added to the success of Camp. Deana is Gateway, Mr. Jay Burdick
retiring this year (although we still have her
number!). On behalf of all the families whose
children benefit so much from time at camp,
thank you Deana for all your hard work. We Advisory Board:
will miss you.
Ms. Barbara Dubois
Our fall programming is being finalized and Ms. Melissa Ferreira
all dates and descriptions will be posted on Ms. Susan Morsilli
our website www.theautismproject.org. This
year’s National Speaker Conference, Inclusion Ms. Joanne Weaver
for the Independent Learner, is scheduled for Ms. Roberta Zimmerly
October 24 at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet. There Ms. Deb Belanger
will be nine breakouts in addition to Gary Me-
sibov’s keynote address. Early Bird specials Ms. Gloria Bussell
are still available.
Ms. Jennifer Parsons
Ms. Lisa Landry
As we start in our new location I look forward
to working with you all to improve the lives of people with autism. I thank Ms. Nancy Levin
you for your continued support and commitment to work.
Dr. Stephen Sheinkopf, Ph.D
Sincerely, Ms. Sue Constable
Ms. Susan Shanley
Joanne Quinn Ms. Glynis Forcht
Executive Director
The Autism Project of RI
Newsletter Editor:
Mr. James Golden

3. STEPS TO SUCCESS…
PAGE 3
Spotlight on Camp Volunteers
Welcome to our new home!
By Sue Fisher
E ach year at camp, we’re lucky to have a num-
ber of volunteers working with our
staff. Many return year after year to assist staff in
working with children and also to help
out “behind the scenes” with legwork and clerical
duties. Several of our volunteers have gone on to
work at camp as counselors and to pursue educa-
tion and additional volunteer activities working
with children with disabilities.
Brenna Rock, Michael Fisher and Adrienne
Golden have been involved with camp since our
first year at the Champlin Reservation, volunteer-
ing for most years, and this year working as paid
This is the main entrance to our new location. It offers
counselors. Lorna Aronson, Bryanna Sands, Caro-
much better accommodations for our purposes and
line Neubauer, Michael Quinn and Megan Fisher,
should allow for some future expansion. Below is a
also paid counselors this year, began as volun-
look at the entire building we now occupy.
teers. Calley Rock, a sophomore at Barrington
High School, has volunteered at camp for the last
three years, and is already looking forward to
working next year. Caitlin and Nicole Fisher, stu-
dents at East Providence High School and Martin
Middle School, respectively, have helped consis-
tently over the years. Greg Bagley, a freshman at
Mount St. Charles Academy, came to volunteer at
camp last summer with his sister, Caitlin Bagley, a
counselor, and has continued with us this summer
where he helps to organize our rowboating area
and assists with rowing. Olivia Radiches, Emily
Newton and Abby Rock have also volunteered this
summer and in the past. We were happy to wel-
come new volunteers, Maura McKnight, Tom
Monahan and Andrew Morsilli this summer.
We look forward to seeing you in the near future at :
In addition to our student volunteers, we were for-
The Autism Project of Rhode Island tunate this year to have help from Lisa McKay and
Joe McCarthy, who worked as volunteer counsel-
1516 Atwood Avenue ors with our campers in the green group. Lisa is
Johnston, RI 02919-3223 an adaptive physical education teacher in East
Greenwich, and has also volunteered for APRI’s
social skills programs (basketball) and is active
Phone # is the same (785-2666) but our extensions with Special Olympics. Joe is an active volunteer
have all been modified. Listen to the new menu when with several community organizations having re-
calling to get the correct extension. tired after 27 years in human resources at Met
Life.

4. STEPS TO SUCCESS…
STEPS TO SUCCESS…
PAGE 4
Recent Fundraisers:
ment. As responsible mem-
A huge thank you once again to the Pat Salis-
bury for hosting The Puzzle Ride for Autism
on July 27th at Francis Farm in Rehoboth. Due to
bers of the community,
Cardi’s has partnered with the
Autism Project of Rhode Is-
the hard work and dedication of Pat and her puzzle land to turn your unwanted
ride committee an amazing $6100.00 was raised to computers, monitors, key-
support our organization. A huge thank you to our boards and other electronic
child ambassadors; Tracy and Sergio who helped equipment into a donation to the Autism Project of RI
make this event a huge success. where you can not only support educational programs
designed exclusively for individuals with autism but
you can clean up the environment as well. It’s easy to
participate: Bring your electronic items to the Cardi’s
West Warwick location on Saturday, September 20,
2008 from 10:00AM-2:00PM.
Electronic Recycling Items:
Items included in our recycle program
Computers, Monitors, Keyboards, Mice, Fax ma-
chines, Printers, Copiers, Speakers, Cell Phones,
Wireless devices, Telephones & Phone systems, Net-
work hubs, Digital cameras, Video game consoles,
Sergio, Pat Salisbury and Tracy Portable video game players.
A heartfelt thank you to David and Kim Hebert for
hosting “The Hebert Open Golf Tournament” this
July. Due to their generosity $6000.00 was raised
to support programs in our schools.
We would also like to thank Robert Reynolds and
all the employees at UPS Cartage Services for host-
ing a recent fundraiser to support our organization.
We so appreciated your support.
The Autism Project of RI is pleased to announce
a new partnership with Cardi’s Furniture enti-
tled: E-Waste Can Ed-u-cate
Did you know that the EPA estimates that over 70
million computers are being taken out of service
each year, consisting of over 5 billion pounds of Please help us make this event a success by contact-
potential electronic waste contamination? Only a ing your friends and neighbors to participate. If
fraction of these systems are ever put back into ser- you would like to help us distribute event posters
vice creating a major safety hazard for our environ- please contact Mary@theautismproject.org.

5. PAGE 5 STEPS TO SUCCESS…
Salute to Summer at the Newport Naval Station For more information call Mary at
th (401) 785-2666
Sunday, August 24
C ome join the Autism Project of RI and see Hewy
Lewis and the News perform a free outdoor con-
cert at Naval Station Newport on Aug. 24, 2008, dur-
October 24th- 5th Annual Drive Fore Autism Golf
Tournament/Carnegie Abbey
ing an open-base event ending with a fireworks dis- Come join us for a day of golf, spa treatments, din-
play shot from a barge in Narragansett Bay. “Salute to ner and auction at Rhode Island’s premier golf club-
Summer,” an annual tradition, features food, music Carnegie Abbey. Help us raise awareness and sup-
and fireworks, will be held at Dewey Field. Gates will port children and adults with autism, their families
open at 5 p.m. Spectators must provide their own lawn and the many programs we provide. The cost per
seating, either blankets or chairs. Rental chairs will be golfer is $250.00 and includes breakfast, greens
available for $1 each No coolers or picnic baskets are fees, cart, lunch and dinner. Registration begins at
allowed on the base but plenty of concession stands 9:00AM with a shotgun start at 10:30AM. Four-
selling clam chowder, hamburgers, hot dogs and other somes are limited and will be sold on a first come
food will be available. Beer and wine also will be sold, first serve basis. Please contact:
along with water and soft drinks. Partial proceeds julie@theautismproject.org to register.
benefit the Autism Project of RI. For more info con-
tact: mary@theautismproject.org There are still sponsorships available-T-Signs are
$150.00.
Sept 6 & 7 Frerichs Farm Pumpkin Palooza
43 Kinnicut Avenue, Warren, RI
TSETSE Gallery APRI Fundraiser
*Farm Fun Day for Autism on Satur TSETSE Gallery RI, at 101 Orange Street in Provi-
day, Sept. 6th dence has invited artists to submit their work for a
All proceeds from this day go to the unique art exhibit in collaboration with the Autism
Autism Project of RI. Have fun explor- Project of Rhode Island. This exhibit is an exciting
ing the farm… visit the Western Town, opportunity for individual artists to display works
Scarecrow Factory, Corn and Hay expressing feelings, thoughts, life views and experi-
mazes and take a magical Pumpkin ences related to Autism and Asperger’s. The mission
Coach Ride of “The Art Spectrum” is to build through art, com-
munity awareness regarding the needs of individuals
Call (401) 245-8245 for more info. with Autism and Asperger’s while affording oppor-
tunities to gain cultural and educational awareness,
Sept 21 CVS Downtown 5K along with community unity. Many mediums of art
Volunteers needed to collect chips at will be on display.
the end of the race-All volunteers re-
ceive a race t-shirt. There are two “openings” for this exhibit. The first,
which will be a fundraiser for the Autism Project of
For More information please contact RI, will be held on Friday, September 12th at 5:30
mary@theautismproject.org PM. The second, which is free and open to the pub-
lic, will be held on Thursday, September 18th at 5:30
PM. The exhibit will run from September 12th
October 15 3rd Annual Catwalk to Campground through September 27, 2008.
Fashion Show
Providence Marriott, Providence, RI For more information, contact Therese Lavallee,
founder and president of TSETSE Gallery, at
Join us for an exciting evening with 401.453.3337.
dinner and Fashion Show

6. STEPS TO SUCCESS…
PAGE 6
SCHOOL, FAMILY AND ASPERGER than the average boy.
SYNDROME Understanding my brother better also has made me
less lonely. Just as I have benefited from better un-
By Nathan Weissler derstanding my typical brother, I hope that this arti-
cle will help typical people better understand the
perspectives of people like me.
A t age four, I was diagnosed with Asperger Syn-
drome (AS), a complex of learning and social
disabilities. I have been in special education since age Nathan Weissler is fifteen years old and lives in
three. My AS has affected me in countless ways. For Chevy Chase, Maryland. He can be reached at na-
example, I often misinterpret others, just as they mis- than.weissler@hotmail.com
interpret me.
King of All Bridges update!
An incident demonstrating this difficulty with commu-
nication occurred at my elementary school in 2001. I
had been sent to the principal's office because my
teacher thought I had spoken disrespectfully to her.
However, I felt that I had to assert myself by speaking
loudly so as not to be ignored. I provoked my teacher
with innocent motives. I was surprised and scared,
and the nurse comforted me as we waited for the prin-
cipal to arrive. I don't remember what the principal
said to me, but I do remember that as I was leaving, I
casually remarked, "That was long." She replied,
"Next time, it'll be even longer. You'll be suspended.
This incident illustrates the shame, fear, and frustra-
tion of being misunderstood. AS makes me constantly
anxious; I am afraid of transgressing unspoken rules of
behavior, and of being shamed and punished. Kudos to Brian Boog and NewEnglandFish-
ing.net for organizing our first fishing tourna-
My family relationships also are affected by AS. I ment on June 22, 2008 at the Turner Reservoir in
crave touching and feeling things and often handle and East Providence. Because of their generosity we
break items belonging to my younger brother and sis- were able to raise an additional $2,657.32 to sup-
ter. This leaves me embarrassed and ashamed. My port our programs. Thanks also to the many vol-
brother and sister once got so angry that they threat- unteers and local businesses that helped make
ened to go into my room and break all my things. This this event a great success.
threat, while not carried out, was frightening.
My brother and I have had wonderful times together,
however. He is a jokester who has a reservoir of kind-
ness, compassion and dedication to family. My brother
occasionally volunteers to help me with math, a sub-
ject in which I struggle but he excels. I have consid-
ered whether helping me find my way is too much of a
burden on him, but I also realize that having a sibling
with Asperger Syndrome has its advantages. He
knows more about the range of ability and disability

7. S
PAGE 7 STEPS TO SUCCESS…
Back to School tips:
By Megan Black
M egan Black received a BA in education from Providence College and Masters in Education from South-
ern Connecticut State University. She previously taught in New Haven, CT and is currently a spe-
cial education teacher for the Cumberland School Department, as well as an educational consultant for the
Autism Project of Rhode Island.
With the days of summer rapidly coming to a close and school right around the corner, this can be a difficult
transition for our kids with ASD. Here are some things that you can do to help your children as they begin a
new school year.
• Talk to your child’s principal or teacher about arranging a visit to their new classroom before school starts.
Taking a picture of the teacher may help to create the connection from home to school.
• Remember you are your child’s first teacher. Provide your child’s teachers with what visuals are success-
ful with your child (count down timer, break card, etc.) as well as their interests and outward signs of anxiety.
Many teachers appreciate this information as they get to know your child.
• Set up a schedule for after school that includes time for snack, homework and breaks. Depending on your
child’s ages and needs, a break right after school might be most beneficial.
• Use a timed timer (http://www.timetimer.com) to visually show how much time to spend on homework.
For example, 15 minutes of homework, 15 minutes for break.
Help your child break assignments into smaller pieces. Using sticky notes to organize the tasks can help. Here
is an example:
Read pages 3-8
Answer question #1
Read pages 9-13
Answer question #2
Using a planner or assignment agenda will help children to stay organized with materials and assignments.
Ask your child’s teacher for help in supporting this at school by having them initial the planner at the end of
the day.
Remember that children with ASD often struggle greatly at the end of the school day. While their peers have
been asked to manage the academic curriculum of school, children with ASD must handle both the academic
and unwritten social curriculum on a daily basis. As a result, this point of the day might be a particular chal-
lenge for ASD kids. Talk to your child’s teacher if homework becomes a great difficulty. Together, you might
be able to strategize to help formulate a plan for success for your child.

8. S
PAGE 8 STEPS TO SUCCESS…
From our mailbag… was so happy to meet more new friends and to see a
lot of old friends. I didn’t know what Block Island
The following is an excerpt from an e-mail sent to was or that a kid with autism lived there.
Joanne Quinn from Joanne Allard:
When camp was over today I was sad, but then I saw
A s usual, this had to be Tracy’s best week of
summer! The week left her calm, happy and as
usual, expanding her friendships. She met a girl
Patrick’s t-shirts and I was not sad anymore. He is a
good t-shirt artist. I’m so proud he did that. Does
he know how many people will be wearing his shirt?
from Block Island and has already been on the I had to ask Mom to get one for Sergio. Tell him I
phone with her. I can’t thank you enough for all the said it’s a wonderful shirt.
time and effort you all put into creating such a safe
fun place for our kids. Thank you, also.
Love,
One day as I was dropping her off she began to melt- Tracy
down about something that was on her mind, I could
not calm her. Sue Fisher sent me on my way. I wor- To caregivers of HFA and Asperger kids: Help to
ried all morning. Later, I learned Sue Fisher had her pay for Social Thinking Academy and Camp.
smiling and happy in no time. Why was I worried? GRANT TO INDIVIDUAL:
Sue’s the best, and we are blessed to have her.
Uninsured/Underinsured
You guys are all such special people. Thanks again
United Healthcare Deadline: Open
for such a great week.
Joanne and Bob Allard T he United Healthcare Children's Foundation
(UHCCF) has announced that new grants are
available to help children who need critical health-
P.S. Patrick’s shirts were adorable. Tracy will be care treatment, services, or equipment not covered or
emailing you to tell you how impressed she was and not fully covered by their parents' health benefit
how proud she was of him. plans.
The foundation provides grants to families to help
The following is an excerpt from an e-mail sent to pay for child healthcare services such as speech ther-
Joanne Quinn from Tracy Allard: apy, physical therapy, occupational therapy sessions,
prescriptions, and medical equipment such as wheel
Hi Joanne, chairs, orthotics, and eyeglasses.
Thank you today for a great week at camp. I could- Parents and legal guardians may apply for grants of
n’t wait to get there every day. Today, I got up and up to$5,000 each for child medical services and
made my breakfast all alone, made no mess and ate equipment by completing an online application at
it all – I was trying to rush camp to start. the UHCCF Web site.
The excitement of being at camp is a good happy Info: http://www.uhccf.org/apply_applicant.html
feeling. I forgot my bathing suit one day, and I got
scared and sad but guess what, it was no big deal. I gÜ|á{ g{ÉÅtá
used my shorts to swim. I love Sue Fisher. Partnership Coordinator
Family Voices National Center for Family Profes-
It was the funnest week of the whole summer and I sional Partnerships

9. S
PAGE 9 STEPS TO SUCCESS…
school, says Gwendolyn Dungy, executive director of
NASPA, a Washington-based organization of student
affairs administrators.
Living with Autism in College
The following has been reprinted with permission "We've been very interested in it and finding out how
from CNN.com ready colleges are for these students," she said. "We
want to establish a climate for success."
When Dan Hackett started college, he didn't make the
grades he knew he could. While higher education institutions usually make ac-
commodations for students with disabilities, the law
does not require them to provide the extent of ser-
Hackett, who has Asperger's syndrome, found at the
vices that students receive in kindergarten through
Community College of Allegheny County in Pitts-
12th grade.
burgh that some of his symptoms were holding him
back. He had difficulty organizing his time and man-
aging assignments. College students must become their own advocates, a
change that can take them and their families by sur-
prise, said Donna Martinez, executive director of
"I always knew I could do better," said Hackett.
George Washington University's Heath Resource
Center, an online clearinghouse for students with dis-
His parents tried to help, but he wasn't comfortable abilities.
with them intervening at college. He was relieved to
discover Achieving in Higher Education with Au-
"It's night and day" from high school, she said. "It's a
tism/Developmental Disabilities, a group that helps
whole different world."
college students like him.
Colleges are trying to educate faculty and staff about
After contracting with AHEADD, Hackett's grade
autism-related disorders and gauge how much ser-
point average increased from 1.5 to 3.6.
vices will cost, said Dungy, who organized a seminar
on these questions at her association's annual confer-
"They kept me on track," says the now 21-year-old ence in March. Most colleges already provide ser-
political science major. "They helped me manage my vices to students with disabilities or special needs.
time."
For decades, only children with severe language and
Many students with Asperger's or other autism-like social impairments received the autism diagnosis. In
disorders face new challenges in a college setting. the 1990s, the autism umbrella expanded, and autism
The syndrome hampers communication and social is now shorthand for a group of milder, related condi-
skills, so along with difficulties staying on top of tions, known as "autism spectrum disorders."
their studies, these students may struggle with mak-
ing friends and living more independently. They also
One in 166 children is now diagnosed with autism,
may be more reluctant to ask for help
compared to 1 in 2,500 a decade ago.
It's a problem colleges and universities are "very
There has been a corresponding surge in special edu-
aware" of as the first big wave of children with diag-
cation services for autistic children in elementary and
nosed autism-related disorders moves beyond high
high schools.

10. S
PAGE 10 STEPS TO SUCCESS…
"More and more of these people who were identified son, Jason, could handle college academics, but he
(in the 1990s) could be headed to college," said worried about the rest of the experience. The center
Marjorie Solomon, who studies high-functioning at Marshall has made all the difference, Breslin said,
children with autism disorders at the University of even though Jason doesn't always think to contact it
California Davis' M.I.N.D. Institute. himself.
One college that has added services for such students "They have to seek him out," said Breslin. "He
is Marshall University, home to the West Virginia thinks he could do it without going to the center. But
Autism Training Center. Through its College Pro- he really does need them."
gram for Students with Asperger's Syndrome, gradu-
ate students help autistic students manage class as- Jason Breslin, 20, a music performance major, says,
signments and develop social and living skills. "They have all been very helpful and supportive of
me. I tried a semester without going to the center
The program fields about 10 calls a week from par- and ended up with very low grades because of late
ents of prospective students, said Barbara Becker- assignments or no assignments turned in."
Cottrill, director of the training center. "The parents
are saying, 'Wow, my student has the grades and The Organization for Autism Research, a nationwide
there's a place that will provide the appropriate sup- group, is creating a line of videos designed to edu-
port for him or her?"' she said. cate college staff. The first is aimed at professors; a
second, in the works, will be geared to resident as-
Students pay $3,200 per semester to enroll in Mar- sistants.
shall's program. Advisers may speak with them sev-
eral times a day, have weekly contact with their pro- AHEADD, the Pittsburgh-based organization, re-
fessors and help find them social activities. They cently opened offices in Dallas, Washington and Al-
might give guidance on dorm living or cafeteria food. bany, New York. It charges between $4,200 and
$5,700 per semester for help with all aspects of col-
"Most classes are 50 minutes long, two to three times lege life.
a day," noted program coordinator Marc Ellison.
"The rest of the time, you're navigating the college "We start with academics," says founder Carolyn
community. My advice to students is to realize the Komich Hare. "If our students don't do well aca-
least amount of time you spend in college is in the demically then they're not around to deal with the
classroom." big issues
Families looking for the right college for autistic kids
should ask whether a school has a counselor who spe-
cializes in autism, if professors receive training about
it, and what academic accommodations, such as addi-
tional time for taking tests, can be made, experts said.
Students also should inquire about social opportuni-
ties: Does the school have an autism organization for
students? Would the university help find a peer men-
tor?
Peter Breslin of South Salem, New York, knew his

11. S
PAGE 11 STEPS TO SUCCESS…
Our RIPIN Parent Consultant Provides Robbie, who has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syn-
drome (AS), finds that playing soccer sets him on a
Input on Recent Book course on which he has never embarked before. Al-
though Robbie is excited about his new adventure, his
R ecently published, the book Beyond the Dragon is a
story about a child with Asperger’s Syndrome.
Doug Flutie called the book, “another Hail Mary story.”
mother is unsure how her son will react in situations to
which he is not accustomed. Of more pressing concern,
The author, Christopher Tremblay, who resides in Woon- is how other children will act towards him.
socket discussed how the book came to be. “One day, my Experience the trials and tribulations of Robbie as he
wife Debbie, who used to work at Century 21 Crossroads participates in organized sports for the first time”.
in Cumberland, RI was talking to her good friend Amy
Chris Tremblay, who has been a freelance sports writer
Bedard, a realtor there, about my first book The Comeback
for over 27 years, hopes that his book will create a me-
Kid which was released in 2006.
dium which promotes autism awareness in an entertain-
ing and enriching manner for children and adults alike.
“Amy told her that she could not read that story to her au- The author will be appearing at the Metro West Medical
tistic son, Robbie because he would not be able to under- Center, Leonard Morse Hospital in Natick, MA on Sep-
stand the story and that it would be great if I would write a tember 14, 2008 to sign copies of the book as part of the
short story for him from the perspective of an Autistic 9th Annual Eastern Bank Flutie 5K Road Race.
child. Amy and my wife Debbie searched the internet for
For more information on ordering any of his books
any sports books pertaining to an Autistic child who
please visit www.goldenrampress.com.
wanted to play sports - they could not find any - and that is
where the idea began.”
Chris goes on to explain how he connected with Sue
Sposato. Sue, currently with RIPIN, has been associated
with the Autism Project or RI since 2002. “Amy Bedard
then told me that her son Robbie, who was 5 at the time,
worked with Susan Sposato at Autism Project and that I
should contact her. Susan took time out of her busy day to
educate me on high functioning autistic children.
“After that visit with Susan it seemed I continued to meet
parents who where looking for this book to be completed
and I decided to take the challenge. My biggest supporter
for this story is Susan Garramone whose child has Asper-
ger Syndrome. She spent tireless hours at Barnes and No-
ble with me and would share the chapters with many
mothers of autistic children and would then supply me
with their feedback.”
The following provides a sense of the story, “Nine-year-
old Robbie Stanley would rather stay inside, playing on
his computer and watching TV rather than go outside and
interacting with the neighborhood kids –that is, until one
afternoon when he happens across a soccer game while
flipping through the TV channels. Immediately, Robbie is
transfixed upon the dragon adorning the Greensboro play-
ers’ uniforms. At that defining moment, he decides that
the wants to play soccer.
While this may be a rather routine task for any other child,

12. S
PAGE 12 STEPS TO SUCCESS…
Every year in this issue we have attempted to show you some pictures from our recent camping experi-
ence. We choose the pictures to showcase the various activities the children are involved in during their
stay with us. We hope you enjoy them and if you’d like to see more, they are available on our website at
www.theautismproject.org .

13. S
PAGE 13 STEPS TO SUCCESS…
...and more from the Camp, 2008

14. S
PAGE 14 STEPS TO SUCCESS…
...and still more from the Camp, 2008

15. S
PAGE 15 STEPS TO SUCCESS…
...and finally!